CHARLESTON, SC – The average cadet student-athlete at The Citadel is anything but average. They're members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. They go to class. They compete against the best the Southern Conference has to offer.

And for some, that's not enough. Many cadet student-athletes take an even less traveled path by majoring in unique or tough fields of study. Some come from unique backgrounds that make the already difficult even more so.

The Citadel Department of Athletics wants to recognize some of those cadet student-athletes who are not just succeeding in competition, but are doing so at a high level while overcoming some of the toughest obstacles.

Mya Dollard (So., Johnsonville, S.C.)
Sport: Track and Field
Major: Nursing (3.31 GPA)

Why did you choose to major in nursing?
MD – "I have wanted to be a nurse since I was little because I want to help people. I like helping people. It's not a boring career, every day you can do something different. I'm not the type of person who wants to do just one specific thing for the rest of my life. It's an interesting field with a lot of possibilities."

What do you hope to do after graduating from The Citadel?
MD – "After I graduate I plan to take the NCLEX, and when I pass, I'm going to apply for jobs at several hospitals. Hopefully I'll be able to work in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for one or two years and gain that experience. Then, I'd like to apply to a medical school, maybe MUSC, and then work to become a nurse anesthetist. They are nurses who work with anesthesia."

Outside of your classes, what are you doing to prepare for your career?
MD – "Over Winter Furlough, I shadowed a nurse I know who is about to become a nurse practitioner. I was able to follow her around a couple of times and see what her days are like. Later this year, I am scheduled to follow an anesthesiologist and see what that is like."

Do you hold rank in the corps?
MD – "I currently do not, but I am considering going for it next year."

What are your responsibilities within the Corps?
MD – "We all have to follow the standards: uniform has to be perfect, your shoes and brass have to be shined, everything we do is held to a higher standard. Since I'm a sophomore, I'm held to a higher standard and there are a lot more pushups."

Talk a little more about juggling all of your responsibilities within the Corps, with the track and field team, and your class schedule.
MB – "The biggest thing that I had to learn was better time management. If you don't have that, then you'll struggle. I was able to figure out what works best for me, and that is to write everything down and check each thing off as I go. I try to do all of my assignments early if they are available. I try to knock them out because all the way through May, we have track meets, so I need to stay on top of things so I don't fall behind."

What would you say is the most difficult part of being a cadet student-athlete?
MD – "The first thing is some people don't understand what all we go through on a daily basis. There are those who think we're lazy, but it's the complete opposite. It's a job for us. First, we are a cadet and a student, and then we're an athlete, but you have to make sure you don't fall behind in either. It can be really hard. For me, my classes are all back-to-back and then I'm right out to practice. And if you miss a practice or a weight-lifting session due to class, you still have to go back and make those workouts up the next day. Sometimes, you have to get up a little extra early to knock out what you missed the day before, and then add that day's workout on top of it."

What is one thing that will stick with you down the road about your time at The Citadel?
MD – "I have learned that I did take the road less traveled. Since I've been through everything here, all the pressures that have been on my shoulders since I arrived, I feel like I can accomplish all of my goals. I feel like I've become stronger and won't break down as easily. Sometimes at a meet, in the back of my mind I'm thinking 'Don't mess up. Don't mess up.' But at the same time, being a cadet comes with its own set of pressure. People are always watching you and you always have to be your best, so it has really prepared me to be successful as a nurse."

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